24/11/2010 - Submitted by: Hohenstein Rena
Colleges and universities are reporting an increase in both the number of students with mental health problems and the complexity and severity of issues. Often, the increased numbers overburden counseling and psychological services available. Substance abuse and other risky behaviors often co-exist with depression and other can mask broader mental health needs when co-occurring with depression and other emotional disorders. If left untreated, these problems can impact students' emotional and social development as well as their academic success and retention.
Student affairs administrators, faculty, resident directors, and counselors are often on the front lines with distressed students, and they - along with many other campus constituencies - are searching for ways to best serve students' individual needs and those of the student body as a whole. Since mental health issues affect not just the individual student but the campus as a whole, successful approaches require collaboration between campus departments and between a college and the local community.
From health and wellness concerns to multicultural and gender issues, interventions for mental health and collaboration across campus are key to the success of students in academia and beyond. To this end, the conference will explore the following topics: